MEDIA ADVISORY
Washington, D.C. (July 24, 2009) —President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced proposed policies with regard to several major competitive education program supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including the $4 billion "Race to the Top" fund. These funds are designed to promote policy change across the states toward college and work ready standards, improved assessments, meaningful accountability, enhanced data systems, teacher effectiveness, turnaround of underperforming schools, and more.
"This is an important moment of opportunity in education reform," said Richard Riley, Secretary of Education during the Clinton Administration and Senior Partner at EducationCounsel LLC. "Making this commitment to education is directly related to saving jobs now and ensuring the long-term economic health of our nation, by improving our education systems to help dramatically improve student achievement."
"The programs announced today represent the greatest leverage points in federal stimulus to accelerate education reform," said Scott Palmer, Managing Partner of EducationCounsel and former White House and Department of Education official during the Clinton Administration. "If we do this right, it will have a big impact in transforming education policies and improving student achievement. It could also establish a new form of state-federal partnership in education – with a focus on high standards and accountability in return for increased investment toward innovation."
EducationCounsel is an innovative law, policy, strategy, and advocacy organization that works with leading states and national associations to dramatically enhance education policies and thereby help improve student achievement and close achievement gaps. EducationCounsel is affiliated with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough law firm.
Mr. Palmer is available for further discussion of today's announcement, the ARRA, and education reform. He can be reached through Kendall Mattos at 202-545-2962. You can also visit the EducationCounsel website at www.educationcounsel.com for further ARRA analysis and background information.